§ MR. JAMES O'CONNOR (Wicklow, W.)On behalf of the hon. Member for East Wicklow, I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the fact that the harbour at Arklow was constructed by the Irish Board of Works on a plan condemned and protested against at the time of construction by the people of the locality, and that the plan has now been proved to have been faulty, and the harbour has become useless, with the result that the important industries of the town, namely, the Cordite Factory of Messrs. Kynoch and the Parnell Quarries, are threatened with extinction, the Board of Works will be directed to put the harbour into a safe condition without expense to the locality, which is in no way responsible for the defective plans.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe plans were opposed by some persons in the locality and supported by others. They were approved by two independent engineers of the highest eminence, whose report was presented to Parliament in 1886. The liability for the. maintenance of the harbour is vested in the Harbour Commissioners.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDBut were not the plans condemned by the local public bodies in the locality?
§ MR. WYNDHAMI am unable to say.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDI will put another Question down.